Worker rights preemption in the US: A map of the campaign to suppress worker rights in the states

Preemption Tracker Data

State

Overview

Minimum wage

MW info

Fair scheduling

FS info

Project labor agreements

PLA info

Prevailing wage

PW info

Paid leave

PL info

Alabama

2016

Minimum wage

Since 2016, Alabama has prohibited its cities and counties from establishing local minimum wages above the federal minimum wage, which applies because Alabama has no state minimum wage. Any existing local minimum wage increases (including an increase in Birmingham) were nullified.

By: Gov. Robert Bentley (R) and a Republican majority state legislature

2016

Fair schedules

Since 2016, Alabama has prohibited its cities and counties from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. These laws are often referred to as “fair work scheduling” laws.

Fair schedules

Since 2017, has prohibited its cities and counties from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. These laws are often referred to as “fair work scheduling” laws.

Project labor agreements

Since 2017, Florida has prohibited its cities and counties from requiring city/county contractors to abide by project labor agreements if 50 percent or more of the public works project is funded by state funds.

Prevailing wage

Since 2017, Florida has prohibited its cities and counties from requiring city/county contractors to pay workers a prevailing wage if 50 percent or more of the public works project is funded by state funds.

Paid leave

Minimum wage

Since 2004, Georgia has prohibited its cities and counties from establishing local minimum wages above the federal minimum wage, which applies in Georgia because its state minimum wage is below the federal minimum.

By: Gov. Sonny Perdue (R), a Republican majority state senate, and a Democratic majority state house

2017

Fair schedules

Since 2017, Georgia has prohibited its cities and counties from requiring employers to give employees any additional pay based on schedule changes (such as providing additional pay when employees are given schedule changes on short notice).

Fair schedules

Since 2016, Indiana has prohibited its cities and counties from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. These laws are often referred to as “fair work scheduling” laws.

Minimum wage

Since 2017, Iowa has prohibited its cities and counties from raising their local minimum wages above Iowa’s state minimum wage. Any existing local minimum wage increases (including increases in Johnson, Linn, Polk, and Wapello Counties) were nullified.

Fair schedules

Since 2017, Iowa has prohibited its cities and counties from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. These laws are often referred to as “fair work scheduling” laws.

Fair schedules

Since 2016, Kansas has prohibited its cities and counties from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. These laws are often referred to as “fair work scheduling” laws.

Minimum wage

Since 2017, Kentucky law has prohibited its cities and counties from raising their local minimum wages above Kentucky’s state minimum wage. But the Kentucky Supreme Court had already effectively banned local minimum wage increases even before the preemption law was passed: In 2016, the Court had struck down minimum wage increases passed in Lexington and Louisville, ruling that those cities did not have the authority to pass a minimum wage that is different than the state’s.

Paid Leave

In 2018, Maryland passed a law requiring employers statewide to provide paid sick leave. However, the law also prohibited cities and counties from establishing paid sick leave requirements that differ from the state standards.

Fair schedules

Since 2015, Michigan has prohibited its cities and counties from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. These laws are often referred to as “fair work scheduling” laws.

2015, with an amendment passed in 2017 to remove the exemption that had protected St. Louis’s existing minimum wage ordinance

Minimum wage

Since 2015, Missouri has prohibited its cities and counties from raising their local minimum wages above Missouri’s state minimum wage, but the 2015 law did not nullify local minimum wage ordinances that were in existence at the time, such as an ordinance in St. Louis. In 2017, Missouri amended its preemption law, adding a provision to retroactively nullify any existing local minimum wage increases, including the increase in St. Louis. A minimum wage increase in Kansas City—passed by local referendum in 2017—was also prevented from going into effect.

Fair schedules

Since 2016, Ohio has prohibited its cities and counties from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. These laws are often referred to as “fair work scheduling” laws.

Minimum wage

By: Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) and a Republican majority state legislature

2015

Paid leave

In 2015, Oregon passed a law requiring employers statewide to provide paid sick leave. However, the law also prohibited cities and counties from establishing paid sick leave requirements that differ from the state standards.

Paid leave

In 2017, Rhode Island passed a law requiring employers statewide to provide paid sick leave. However, the law also prohibited cities and counties from establishing paid sick leave requirements that differ from the state standards.

Fair schedules

Since 2017, Tennessee has prohibited its cities and counties from establishing any laws governing work schedules—such as laws requiring employers to give advance notice of work schedules or pay a premium for requiring workers to be “on call” for shifts. These laws are often referred to as “fair work scheduling” laws.

Paid leave

Since 2011, Wisconsin has prohibited its cities and counties from requiring employers to provide employees paid sick days or paid family leave. Any existing local paid leave ordinances (including an ordinance in Milwaukee) were repealed.

EPI is an independent, nonprofit think tank that researches the impact of economic trends and policies on working people in the United States. EPI’s research helps policymakers, opinion leaders, advocates, journalists, and the public understand the bread-and-butter issues affecting ordinary Americans.